What is the Express 27's sail area to displacement ratio?

The Express 27 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 24.36. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.

What is the Express 27's comfort ratio?

The Express 27 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 9.57. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.

Is the Express 27 safe for offshore sailing?

The Express 27 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 2.38. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.

What is the hull speed of the Express 27?

The theoretical hull speed of the Express 27 is 6.53 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.

How much does a Express 27 weigh?

The Express 27 has a displacement of 2,450.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 27.25 ft.

How much does a used Express 27 cost?

Based on 2 recent market listings, used Express 27 sailboats typically sell for between $22,500 and $22,500, with a median asking price of $22,500. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.

Who designed the Express 27?

The Express 27 was designed by Carl Schumacher, first built in 1982.

Express 27 Performance — PHRF, SA/D, Hull Speed & Sailing Characteristics

The Express 27 is aggressively canvassed for its weight, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, and respectable in club racing.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

6.5 kts

A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 23.8′, the Express 27 tops out around 6.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.

1.34 × √23.8′ LWL = 6.5 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

PHRF Rating

137s/nm

Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.

SA / Displacement

24.4

Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.

Ballast / Displacement

44.9%

Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.

Displacement / Length

Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.

Comfort Ratio

9.6

Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.

Capsize Screening

2.38

Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.

Hull Speed

6.5kts

S# (Speed Number)

5.9

Pounds/Inch Immersion

679lbs

Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.

Motion & Offshore Suitability

Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.

Comfort Ratio

9.6

Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.

Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion

20–30 — Acceptable coastal

30–40 — Good offshore comfort

Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore

Capsize Screening Formula

2.38

Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.

Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore

Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Express 27 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Cruiser/Racer 90–150

Cruiser 150–210

Heavy Cruiser 210–300

Express 27 137s/nm Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.

Hunter 27 213s/nm

Estimated Speed by Wind

Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.

Point of Sail	6 kts TWS	10 kts TWS	15 kts TWS	20 kts TWS
Close-hauled40–50°	3.1	3.9	4.3	4.5
Close Reach60°	3.7	4.7	5.3	5.5
Beam Reach90°	4.6	5.8	6.4	7.0
Broad Reach120–135°	4.2	5.3	6.0	6.5
Run150–180°	3.4	4.3	4.8	5.0

These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.5 kts), SA/D (24.4), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current. Speeds in gold approach hull speed; bold gold means near or at hull speed.

Wind Range & Comfort Envelope

Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Express 27 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost

Sweet Spot

Reef

Heavy

0–5 kts 5–18 kts 18–28 kts 28+ kts

Ghosting

0–5 kts

Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.

Sweet Spot

5–18 kts

Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.

Time to Reef

18–28 kts

Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.

Heavy Weather

28+ kts

Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.

How It Compares

Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Express 27.

	Express 27	Cc 27 Mk I	Cc 27 Mk Ii	Hunter 27	Islander 27 2	Mirage 27 Schmidt
Dimensions
LOA	27.3	27.3	27.3	27.2	27.3	27.2
LWL	23.8	22.2	21.0	22.0	23.0	21.5
Beam	8.0	9.2	9.9	9.2	8.3	9.3
Displacement	2	5	5	7	4	5
Ballast	1	2	2	3	1	2
Sail Area	276	344	373	303	285	370
Performance
PHRF	137	—	—	213	—	—
SA/Disp	24.4	18.4	19.2	13.2	17.2	19.1
Bal/Disp	44.9	48.5	45.7	42.9	—	40.0
Comfort	9.6	17.6	17.5	—	16.4	18.9
Capsize	2.38	2.13	2.25	—	2.04	2.10
Hull Speed	6.5	6.3	6.1	—	6.4	6.2